Requires disclosure of addiction risks for certain prescription drugs

4 Co-sponsors

• Tony Avella
• Ruth Hassell-Thompson
• Liz Krueger
• George D. Maziarz

BILL NUMBER:S547

Title of bill

An act to amend the public health law and the mental hygiene law, in relation to requiring disclosure of addiction risks for certain prescription drugs

Purpose

This bill requires disclosure of addiction risks for certain prescription drugs.

Summary of provisions

Section 1 defines the bill as Michael David Israel patient information act.

Section 2 defines opiate analgesics and psychotropic drugs and amends public health law to require that prescribers and pharmacists make patients aware of the risk of addiction and local resources to treat addiction to prescription drugs prior to prescribing or dispensing such drugs.

Section 2 also requires that patients sign a waiver stating that they understand the risks of addiction and that they have been provided with information about local resources in the event that they become addicted. In addition section 2 provides a fine scale for failure to provide patients with such information.

Section 3 defines opiate analgesics and psychotropic drugs and amends mental hygiene law to require that mental health prescribers and pharmacists make patients aware of the risk of addiction and local resources to treat addiction to prescription drugs prior to prescribing or dispensing such drugs.

Section 3 also requires that patients sign a waiver stating that they understand the risks of addiction and that they have been provided with information about local resources in the event that they become addicted. In addition section 3 provides a fine scale for failure to provide patients with such information.

Section 4 is the enacting clause.

Justification

Michael David Israel, the son of Avi and Julie Israel, was one of many young people across New York State who battled with prescription drug abuse, On June 4, 2011 Michael David Israel tragically took his own life.

Michael's story is not a unique one. Nationally deaths from prescription opiates have tripled since 1999, and overdoses from prescription opiates now hospitalize more people each year than cocaine or heroin, Additionally, in a recent University at Buffalo study of 75 addicts, 41 percent reported their addiction began with medicine prescribed legally by their doctors.

The rate at which doctors are prescribing opiates is also alarming In New York State 37 prescriptions are written for hydrocodone, fentanyl, and oxycodone for every 100 New Yorkers. In Western New York that rate is almost double, with 65 prescriptions being written for every 100 residents. These statistics are concerning, and in some regards alarming.

This bill would require that patients receive information about the potential risks of addiction to certain kinds of drugs as well as the local resources available to them if they feel they are becoming addicted. In the case of Michael David Israel, more information from the outset about the danger of opiate painkillers as well as local treatment options could have helped save Michael's life.

Legislative history

2012: S.6169/A.9097 Referred to Health

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

This act shall lake effect immediately.